Sprinkler-head.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1903. I

v. LAPHAM. SPRINKLER HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1900.

no MODEL.

UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFF CE.

Patented July 21, 1903.

VALENTINE LAPHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRINKLER-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,184, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed November 23, 1900. Serial No. 37,462. (No models I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE LAPHAM, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprinkler-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to what are known in the art of automatic fire sprinkler or extinguisher systems as sprinkler-heads; and its object is to provide simple and efiicient heads of this character.

My sprinkler-heads are so constructed as to possess the necessary qualities of reliability and sensitiveness.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my sprinkler-head full size; Fig- 2, a similar view, but taken at right angles with respect to Fig. 1 and having one of the yokearms broken away; Fig. 3, a section on line 3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5, enlarged views of a lock or jam nut, Fig. 6, a bottom plan of one of the members of the strut; Fig. 7, a section on line 7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a plan of the cap'which closes the water-passage in the head, and Fig. 9 a section taken on line 9 of Fig. 2 of the link alone.

The sprinkler-head has the usual nozzlel, having a passage 2 communicating with the distributing-pipes of the system, and also has the usual yoke portion 3, as well as a water deflector or distributor 4, preferably revoluble.

The strut comprises three main members 5, 6, and 7, the latter being a fusible link, which is itself composed ofthree pieces 8, 9, and 10, as shown in Fig. 9. Inasmuch as this link is the same as the one described in my Patent No. 575,121, issued January 12, 1897, its construction and operation need not be here set forth.

The strut member 5 is preferably curved, being somewhat U-shaped for sake of elasticity. One end of this member has a projecting book 11, which is received by an eye 12 in one end of the link. The other end of this member has a slight-socket 13 to receive the adjusting or set screw 14.

The strut member 6 has a verticalportion 15 with anopening 16, through which the link extends. This member also has a laterallyprojecting arm 17, somewhat similar to member 5. A projecting hook 18 on the end of arm 17 engages in an eye 19 in the link. Obviously the portion 15 may be changed in construction,as, for instance, one side arm may be cut away and the strain taken entirely by the other side arm-although the able. One corner 20 of the portion 15 is preferably carried upwardly slightly to form a ledge or shoulder bearing on a shoulder 21, formed on the strut member 5. This engagement of these members will prevent their slipping away from each other when jarred. The lower end of the strut member 6 has a projection 22, which is elongated laterally and adapted to fit in an oval or elongated recess 23 in the water cap or valve 24, which normally closes the passage 2. The object of this construction is to prevent turning of the strut in the yoke.

The proper strain is put upon the strut and maintained bya novel and advantageous arrangement and location ofa jam or look nut. A hole 25 extends through the upper portion of the yoke, through which the set-screw 14 passes. 26, screwing upon the set-screw. This nut, Whose edge may be knurled or milled, is preferably of such diameter as to. be contained entirely within the outer surface of the yoke, and thereby offer no obstruction or deflection of the water. 'After the members of the strut are assembled as shown in the drawings the proper tension is secured by screwing down the set-screw, after which it is locked in thisposition by turning the lock-nut so that the tension on the strut can be maintained practically indefinitely. Inasmuch as the bearing between the strut members 5 and 6 is off center, or rather out of the central vertical plane of the sprinkler-head or line of thrust, such members tend to rock upon each other, but are restrained by engagement of the link with their ends. The pressure on these ends is away from each other and the strain is borne by the link, whose parts are held together by fusible solder. When this solder is fused, the link will be pulled apart and the strut will fall to pieces. The cap 24 will now be forced off its seat by. water-pressure if used on a wet system or by air if used on .a dry system.

It will be understood that the feature of construction shown is now considered prefer-.

In this hole is arranged the lock-nut the lock-nut is not dependent on my novel form of strut, but that such feature may be used in connection with various other forms of struts, and, furthermore, my strut herein shown is not dependent for its operation on the use of the lock-nut.

My novel form of strut is not only simple in construction, but is positive and reliable in operation. Under normal conditions the link holds the main members of the strut together with certainty, but is very sensitive in action when the predetermined degree of heat is reached.

The feature of the lock-n ut is ad vantageo us, for the reason that it provides in a simple manner for the locking of the set-screw in diiferentadjusted positions. Sprinkler-heads having this feature may be readily repaired or reset as to tension on the strut. Moreover, the lock-nut when made as shown is compactly made with respect to the yoke without interfering with the How or distribution of the water and Withoutinterfering with the revolution of the deflector when a revoluble deflector is used.

It will be understood that my lock-nut may be used in connection with the set-screw of sprinkler-heads generally regardless of any special construction and also regardless of whether the deflector is revoluble or not.

The members of the strut project laterally of the sprinkler-headthat is, to the right and left of the plane of the yoke-arms-while the link is also so arranged, such link passing through an opening in one of the members, so that the parts are brought within as small compass as possible without interfering with positiveness or sensitiveness of action. This arrangement of the two strut members extending on either side of the plane of the yoke, thereby bringing such members as far as possible within the area protected by the yoke, is of considerable importance in the practical art, inasmuch as it is quite objectionable in a sprinkler-head to have the strut members, which are sensitive and delicate in construction, projecting any great distance laterally of the head, because of the liability of derangement thereof by ladders or other things being carried around the room; My said arrangement therefore subserves a useful purpose besides representing a balanced structure, as well as pleasing appearance.

I claim 1. In a sprinkler-head, in combination with the yoke, a strut comprising two members pivoted off center on each other and having projecting ends extending on either side of the plane of the yoke and a fusible link connecting said ends and located between the top and bottom of the yoke.

2. In a sprinkler-head having a Water cap or valve, a strut comprising members 5 and 6 and a fusible link 7, the member 6 bearing on the water-cap and extending around and above the link where it is provided with a laterally-extending arm engaging one end of the link whose other end is engaged by member 5.

3. In a sprinkler-head having a water cap or valve, a strut comprising members 5 and 6 and fusible link 7, the member 6 bearing on the water-cap and having a curved arm 17 which extends laterally, the member 5 also being curved and extending laterally but on the opposite side of the sprinkler-head.

4. In a sprinkler-head, in combination with the yoke, a strut comprising two members engaging each other and having curved portions which extend laterally on opposite sides of the yoke and a fusible link extending through the opening in the yoke and connecting the ends of such curved portions of the strut members.

5. In a sprinkler-head, a strut comprising members 5 and 6 and fusible link 7, the member 6 having a portion 15 with a hole or opening 16 through which such link passes and also having a projecting arm 17 engaging one end of the link whose other end is engaged by the strut member 5.

6. In a sprinkler-head, the combination, with the usual yoke, strut and set-screw, of a deflector arranged to revolve freely on said screw, a locking-nut on said screw and within the body of the yoke and adapted to lock the screw in diflferent adjusted positions.

7. In a sprinkler head, the combination with the yoke and strut, of a set-screw working in the top of the yoke and against the strut to apply tension,such yoke having a side opening through which such set-screw passes and means in such opening for locking the screw in different adjusted positions.

8. In a sprinkler-head, the combination of a yoke having a side opening near the top, a strut, a set-screw working in the top of the yoke and passing through such opening and a lock or jam nut arranged in such opening and screwing on said screw.

9. In a sprinkler-head, the combination of a yoke having a side opening near the top, a strut, a set-screw working in the top of the yoke and against the strut to apply tension, such screw passing through such opening and a lock or jam nut in such openingand adapted to screw on said screw to lock it, such nut be ing located within the surface or face of the yoke so as not to obstruct or deflect the water.

10. In a sprinkler-head, the combination of the usual yoke, strut'and set-screw screwing through the top of the yoke and against the strut to apply tension thereto, a deflector arranged to revolve on said screw, and means arranged in the body of the yoke to lock the screw.

11. In combination with a sprinkler-head and its tension-applying set-screw, such head having a lateral opening through which the screw works,'of a lock-nut on such screw and arranged in such opening.

12. A sprinkler-head comprising the head proper, a yoke, a water-cap, and a strut consisting of members 5 and 6 and a link 7, said members "projecting laterally on either side of the plane of the yoke and being provided with projecting ends connected by the link, said member 6 having a raised corner or edge 20 engaging a shoulder 21 which is provided on the member 5.

13. A sprinkler-strut for a sprinkler-head comprising members 5 and 6 and a fusible link 7, the member 5 being curved or arched with one end engaging one end of such link,

the other member 6 having a lower or vertical portion 15 with an opening 16 through which the link passes and also having a curved arm VALENTINE LAPHAM.

.Witnesses:

SAMUEL E. HIBBEN, LoUIsE E. SERAGE. 

